Key operated cap gun



March 27, 1962 E. GOLDFARB 3,026,643

KEY OPERATED CAP GUN Filed April 10, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l INV EN TOR:

ADOLPH E- GOLDFA P8,

March 27, 1962 E. GOLDFARB KEY OPERATED CAP GUN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 10, 1961 ADOLPH E. GOLDFARB,

INV EN TOR.

A TTORNEK March 27, 1962 A. E. GOLDFARB 3,026,643

KEY OPERATED CAP GUN Filed April 10, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i v 68 527061 J Ill" Q ml z/ w 2; E 16 3 26 7 ATTORNEK United States Patent3,026,643 KEY OPERATED CAP GUN Adolph E. Goldfarb, 7427 Vama St., NorthHollywood, Calif. Filed Apr. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 102,055 13 Claims. (Cl.42--57) This invention relates to cap guns and more particularly to akey operated cap gun capable of detonating percussive caps of a strip ofcaps in response to rotation of a removable key.

More specifically, this invention provides a key operated cap gun havinga body of any desired configuration but preferably simulating a body ofa padlock having aligned keyholes extending centrally therethrough and ahandle simulating a shackle of a padlock pivotally secured thereto foruse either as a shackle or as a handle during the operation of the gun.A key is removably insertable through the keyhole for actuating a hammerwithin the housing to strike a percussive cap of a strip of capsadvanceable in the housing in response to rotation of the key relativeto the housing. A gun barrel is movably mounted in the housing and isextensible outwardly of the housing in response to rotation of the keyand retractable into the housing after firing of a cap.

The cap gun of this invention is designed for use particularly bychildren of the cap gun age level in which the element of intrigue,subterfuge and surprise captivates their imagination. The padlock has aninnocent appearance of being usable as such with a shackle positionableinto a closed but unlocked position and into an open position for use asa handle whereby the body or housing of the padlock may be positionedinto a firing position. The key may then be inserted through thekeyholes of the housing to position a bit thereof to actuate a hammerwithin the housing in response to rotation of the stem of the key,thereby causing a barrel to emerge outwardly of the housing and apercussion cap to be detonated. Thus children who are aware of the manydeceptive devices and hidden weapons used in the days of the wild Westare provided with more realistic and imaginative play.

It is, therefore, among the objects of this invention to provide a newand improved cap gun embodying an innocent-appearing housing which isdeceptively operable by a key to fire a percussion cap in response torotation of the key relative to the housing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved capgun wherein the housing thereof includes a handle deceptively disguisedto simulate an operative part of a harmless device.

A further object of this invention is to provide new and improvedescapement means for the cap gun of this invention which translatesrotation of a key to cock a springbiased hammer of the device andsubsequently release the hammer for impact against a percussive capsupported upon an anvil of the housing for firing of the cap.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a linearly moveablebarrel within the housing which is extensible outwardly of the housingat the time that the percussive cap is detonated to aiford a morerealistic action to the gun.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved cap gun in which an advanceable strip of percussive caps isautomatically advanced in response to actuation of the gun to advance asubsequent percussive cap on the anvil of the housing in response torotation of the key.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved capgun of the character described which is economical to manufacture andcapable of mass production.

A general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved keyoperated cap gun of the character described which overcomesdisadvantages of prior means and methods heretofore intended toaccomplish generally similar purposes.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from thefollowing detailed description, drawings and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front side view, in elevation, of the cap gun of thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view thereof, with parts broken away for greaterclarity;

FIGURE 3 is a front view in elevation, similar to FIGURE 1, with the capgun rotated into a firing position and with selected parts thereofillustrated as being actuated;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line4-4 with the cap gun rotated ninety degrees in preparation for firingthereof;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URE 4, showing partsthereof actuated into a firing position;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 7--7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a front side view, in elevation, similar to FIGURE 1,illustrating parts thereof in a changed position for loading of the gun;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view, in elevation, showing selected parts ofan escapement means of the invention in exploded relationship; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view, in elevation, illustrating the hammermeans of this invention in greater detail.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown by way ofillustration, but not of limitation, a toy cap gun designed andconstructed in accordance with this invention and generally designatedby the numeral 10. The cap gun 10 comprises a housing 11 generallyconfigurated to simulate a padlock and having a back wall 12, acontinuous peripheral side wall 13 and a top Wall 14. The top wall 14comprises a stationary portion 16 secured to the housing as by fasteners17 in the form of screws, bolts, rivets, or the like, and a movableportion 18 pivotally secured to the stationary portion 16 as by a pivotpin 19 in the form of a rivet, bolt, or the like. As best seen in FIGURE8, the movable portion 18 may be pivoted away from the stationaryportion 16 to afford access to the interior 21 of the housing 11 forreloading of the cap gun with a roll of percussive caps in strip formhoused within the housing 11.

Preferably formed integrally with or optionally secured to thestationary top wall portion 16 is an offset cap supporting Wall 22having a transverse pin 23 on which a roll of percussive caps in stripform, indicated by the numeral 24, is mounted. The strip 24 isadvanceable on an anvil 25 secured within or integrally formed with thehousing 11 and extends outwardly of the housing as through an opening 26formed in a lower portion of the peripheral wall 13 of the housing. Theanvil 25 may be in the form of a web extending transversely from theback wall or rear wall 12.

A detent indicated by the numeral 27 is preferably formed on thestationary wall 16 and cooperating with a dimple 28 formed in a portionof the movable wall 18 for holding the movable wall 18 in place duringoperation. The dimple 28 may be sprung over the detent 27 when themovable top wall 18 is pivoted to its position shown particularly inFIGURES 1 and 3.

A handle 28 is pivotally secured to the housing 11 as at 29 andpreferably simulates the appearance of a shackle of a padlock. Thehandle 28 is U-shaped in configuration having one leg pivoted at thepivot point 29 and the free end 31 extensible through an opening 32 ofthe peripheral wall 13 to simulate a locked position of a shackle. Thehandle 28 is positionable into the locked appearing position of FIGURE 1and into the unlocked appearing position of FIGURE 3 wherein it servesas a handle to support the gun 10 in its firing position by a spring 33having one end anchored as at 34 to the housing 11 and another end 36secured to an extension 37 of the pivoted end of the shackle or handle11. The spring 33 biases the handle 11 in each of its positions when thehandle is pivoted to position the extension 37 and spring 33 in anovercenter condition.

A keyhole 38 is formed in an overhanging portion 39 of the movable topwall portion 18' and alignable with a keyhole 41 formed in thestationary portion 16 of the top wall when the movable portion 18 ispivoted to close the housing as in FIGURES 1-3, inclusive, through whicha key 42 may be inserted for actuating the gun 10, as will behereinafter described. The key 42 includes a stem 43 having a loop orbow 44 at its outer end and an actuator bit 46 extending transverselyfrom its opposite end, the bit being responsive to rotation of the keyto actuate the operation of the cap gun, as will be hereinafterdescribed. A keyhole 47 similar .to the aligned holes 38, 41, ispreferably formed in the rear wall 12 so that the key 42 may be insertedfrom either the front of the padlock 10 or from the back, i.e., throughthe rear Wall 12. A collar 48 is preferably formed on the stem 43 toprevent insertion of the key entirely through the housing and outwardlythereof.

Hammer means, generally designated by the numeral 51 is pivotallymounted in the housing as on a transverse pin 52 for pivotal movementinto a normal capfiring position, shown in FIGURE 4, and a hammercockingposition shown in FIGURE 5. The hammer 51 is biased into its cap-firingposition by a spring 53 encircling vthe pin 52 and having one end 54bearing against an upturned tab 56 of the hammer and its opposite end 57bearing against the inner surface of the peripheral wall 13. At an end58, opposed to the tab end 56 of the hammer 51, an enlarged head isformed on the hammer 51 having an impact face '59 biased into engagementwith the anvil 25 to detonate percussive caps of the strip of caps 24interposed between the anvil and the face.

An escapement means, generally designated by the numeral 60, is providedand actuated by the key 42 to actuate the hammer 51. The escapementmeans 60 includes a member 61 pivotally secured in the housing 11 forpivotal movement about a pivot pin 62 extending transversely from therear wall 12. When the key 42 is manually rotated, the bit 46 engagesthe member 61 to rotate the member and bias one end 63 of the memberinto engagement with a pin 64 depending from the hammer -1 to pivot thehammer into its cocked position of FIGURE 5. When the hammer 51 reachesthe position illustrated in FIGURE 5, the end 63 escapes the pin 64 torelease the hammer 51 for bias by the spring '53 into its cap-firingposition. A return spring 66 biases the member 61 to rotate back intoits original position. In order that the member 61 may pass under thepin 64 to return to its original position, a cam surface 67 is {formedon the end 63 and engages the pin 64 in its return travel -to bias theend 63 of the member 61 downwardly so that it may pass under the pin 64.For this purpose, the member 61 is yieldably mounted on the pin 62 asindicated in FIGURES 6 and 7. A coiled spring 68 is interposed betweenthe inner surface of the rear wall 12 and the undersurface of the member61 and is supported thereon, whereby when the cam surface 67 engages thepin 64, the spring 68 permits the member 61 to yield and pass thereunderand subsequently elevate intov its normal position.

A cap advancing means 70 is pivotally mounted on an angular portion 71of the member 61 for advancing the strip 24 of percussive caps inresponse to actuation of the member 61. The cap-advancing means 70includes a bell crank 72 pivotally secured to the member 61 as at 73.The bell crank 72 includes an upturned tab 74 bearing against the capstrip 24 when the member 61 is pivoted by the bit 46 of the key 42. Thespring 66 includes one end 75 engaging a free end 76 of the bell crank72 and an opposite end 77 hearing against a stationary portion of thehousing, such as the pin 52, to bias the bell crank 72 to rotate in adirection to bias the tab 74 against the strip 24 at the same time thatit biases the member 61 to return to its original position.

As will now be more clearly understood, when the key 42 is rotated, thebit 46 engages the member 61 to pivot about the axis of the pin 62 andengage the pin 64 of the hammer 51 to pivot the hammer 51 into itscocked position of FIGURE 5. As the end 63 of the member 61 escapes thepin 64, which is now preloaded by the spring 53, the spring 53 biasesthe face 59 of the hammer 51 into impact against the anvil 25 to firethe percussive cap of the strip 24 aligned with the face. At the sametime, the bell crank 72 is biased so that its upturned tab 74 engages:the strip 24 to frictionally cause the strip 24 to advance along theanvil 59 and position a new cap aligned with the face 59.

A simulated gunbarrel, generally designated by the numeral 80 is movablymounted in the housing 11 for linear, reciprocal movement relative tothe housing into a position as shown in FIGURE 4 wherein the barrel isconcealed Within the housing and into the position of FIGURE 5 whereinthe barrel 80 extends outwardly of the housing through an opening 81 ofthe peripheral wall 13 of the housing. The barrel 80 includes a hookedend 82 engaged by a cam 83 of the escapement means 60. The hooked end 82includes a slot 84 in which the cam 83 resides. As the escapement meansis actuated and the member 61 is pivoted about the pivot pin 62, the camend 83 biases the gun barrel 80 outwardly through the opening 81 to theposition of FIGURE 5. As the escapement means returns to its originalposition of FIGURE 4, the cam 83 retracts the gun barrel 80 to theposition of FIGURE 4 in which it is concealed within the housing. Guidesurfaces 86 and 87 are preferably provided to guide the gun barrel inits linear path. The barrel 80 is preferably cylindrical at its outerend and is relativley flat at its inner portion 88.

It will now be more clearly understood from the foregoing descriptionthat the barrel 80 is extensible outwardly of the housing '11 inresponse to actuation of the escapement means 60. The barrel portion 85is extended outwardly of the housing at the time that the hammer iscocked and released and is retracted inwardly of the housing when theescapement means 60 is returned to its normal position of FIGURE 4, thatis, when the key 42 is rotated in an opposite direction to remove thebit 46 from engagement with the member 61 or released for bias by thespring 66 alone. The spring 66 acts to both rotate or bias the bellcrank 72 into cap-advancing position and bias the member 61 into itsnormal inactive position.

For convenience of construction, a pin 89 is provided on the outersurface of the hammer 51, opposite to the pin 64 and bears against theunderside of the stationary top wall 16 to resist the force of the cam67 as the cam engages the pin 64 to bias the member 61 to ride under thepin 64 as previously described.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in whatis conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosedherein, but is to be afiorded the full scope of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A percussive cap pistol comprising: a housing having a keyholeextending therethrough; key means positionable in said keyhole androtatable relative to said housing; anvil means fixed in said housingand adapted to support percussive cap means thereon; hammer meanspivotally mounted in said housing; spring means biasing said hammermeans into engagement with said anvil means; and escapement meanspivotally mounted in said housing, said escapement means being pivotablein response to rotation of said key means for translating rotation ofsaid key means in one direction into pivotal movement of said hammermeans away from said anvil means and releasing said hammer means forspring biased impact against said anvil means so as to detonate apercussive cap means positioned therebetween.

2. A pistol as defined in claim 1, wherein said percussive cap meansincludes an advanceable strip of percussion caps and including capadvancing means operatively associated with said escapement means andmovable therewith so as to advance spaced percussive caps of said stripon said anvil means in response to movement of said escapement meansduring rotation of said key means.

3. A cap pistol as defined in claim 1, including second spring meansbiasing said escapement means into an inactive, non-hammer actuatingposition.

4. A cap pistol as defined in claim 3, including means yieldablymounting said escapement means in said housing for non-hammer actuatingreturn of said escapement means to its inactive position.

5. A cap pistol as defined in claim 1, including barrel means movablymounted in said housing for linear movement relative thereto; and meansconnecting said escapement means and said barrel means so as totranslate pivotal movement of said escapement means into linear movementof said barrel means in response to actuation of said escapement meansby said key means.

6. A cap pistol as defined in claim 5, wherein said barrel means ismovable outwardly of said housing in response to movement of saidescapement means to actuate said hammer means and inwardly of saidhousing in response to return of said escapement means into its inactiveposition.

7. A percussive cap pistol comprising: a housing simulating the body ofa padlock and having a keyhole extending therethrough; handle meanssimulating a shackle of a padlock pivotally secured to said housing,said hand le means being pivotable into a shackle-closed-simulatingposition and a shackle-opened-simulating position for manual grippingthereof; key means positionable in said keyhole and rotatable relativeto said housing; anvil means fixed in said housing and adapted tosupport a strip of percussive caps thereon; hammer means pivotallymounted in said housing and selectively engageable with said anvil meansfor detonating said percussive caps; spring means biasing said hammermeans into impact with said anvil means; and escapement means pivotallymounted in said housing, said escapement means being pivotable inresponse to rotation of said key means and engageable with said hammermeans so as to pivot said hammer means away from said anvil meansagainst the bias of said spring means and release said hammer means forspring-biased impact against said anvil means for detonating saidpercussive caps.

8. A cap pistol as defined in claim 7, including a second spring meansbiasing said handle in each of said shackleopened and shackle-closedsimulated positions.

9. A cap pistol as defined in claim 7, including second spring meansbiasing said escapement means into an inactive, non-hammer-engagingposition.

10. A cap pistol as defined in claim 9, wherein said hammer meansincludes a projection depending therefrom and said escapement includes amember pivotally and yieldably mounted on said housing adjacent to saidhammer means, said member having a cam end engageable with saidprojection of said hammer means in response to pivotal movement of saidmember in one direction to pivot said hammer means away from said anvilmeans, said cam end being disengageable from said projection for releaseof said hammer means in response to subsequent pivotal movement of saidmember relative to said hammer means and for spring-bias into impactwith said anvil means and said member being yieldable so as to underridesaid projection during pivotal movement of said escapement means intoits inactive position.

11. A cap pistol as defined in claim 7, including capadvancing meansoperatively associated with said escapement means and movable therewithso as to advance spaced percussive caps of said strip in response tomovement of said escapement means during rotation of said key means.

12. A cap pistol defined in claim 7, including barrel means movablymounted in said housing and means connecting said escapement means andsaid barrel means so as to translate pivotal movement of said escapementmeans into linear movement of said barrel means in response to actuationof said escapement means by said key means.

13. A cap pistol as defined in claim 12, wherein said barrel means ismovable outwardly of said housing in response to movement of saidescapement means to actuate said hammer means and inwardly of saidhousing in response to return of said escapement means into its inactiveposition.

No references cited.

